Top, Versatile, and Bottom Identities and Sexual Behaviors in Self-Identified Bisexual MSM

Abstract

Abstract There is a lack of research concerning self-identified bisexual men who have sex with men (BMSM), specifically regarding their self-identification as top, versatile, or bottom and their sexual behaviors. As a result, this study seeks to examine the use of top, versatile, and bottom identity labels among a group of self-identified BMSM and to describe their sexual behaviors, examining any possible associations between sexual positions and condomless anal sex. This study recruited 278 BMSM, who ranged in age from 21 to 69 years old (Mage=44.92, SDage=10.74). This study recruited participants via websites, e-mail, and social media. All participants self-identified as bisexual men who have sex with other men. The majority of sample participants were married to a woman (32.7%) or single (30.7%), held a university degree, and lived in urban areas. Participants indicated relatively high bisexual identity acceptance levels (8.03 on a scale from 1 to 10). The survey included three categories of questions, encompassing sociodemographic information, sex role self-identifications, and (un)protected anal sex behaviors. Regarding typical anal sex behaviors, 41.4% of BMSM self-identified as bottoms, 30.3% as tops, and 28.3% as versatiles. The study found significant differences among BMSM for all types of anal sex practices based on sex role identities. Versatile men more frequently reported condomless receptive anal sex, whereas tops were the most likely to report partaking in condomless insertive anal sex. Finally, self-identified bottom BMSM perceived themselves as having shorter penises and being younger in age than BMSM self-identifying as tops, versatiles, or as older in age. This study shows that sexual position self-labeling among BMSM is complex, as well as the need for further research.